Deadly toxic chemicals found in Durban's rivers and beaches
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It is not yet identified whether UPL’s warehouse was intentionally sabotaged or fell victim of the looting of their neighbour, Makro. But at around 2am on Tuesday, 13 July, a fireball exploded, ripping the roof off the warehouse and, with it, the sprinkler system.
According to AmaBhungane, this birthed two problems: toxic smoke from the fire and a mass chemical spill as water used to fight the fire flowed down the hill, into a wetland and into the Ohlanga river.
Fortunately, the investigative journalism paper has shared some of the deadly findings.
The following was shared by AmaBhungane after they accessed the inventory:
- More than 26,000 kilograms of Masta 900, an insecticide containing the “very potent neurotoxin” methomyl, for which “contact with skin, inhalation of dust or spray, or swallowing may be fatal”.
- Another 1,800 litres of methamidophos, also a “very potent neurotoxin”.
- More than 40,000 litres of products using the herbicide paraquat, which poses “high risk for all life forms”.
- Over 19,000 kilograms of Terbufos, another “very toxic” chemical presenting “high risk to all forms of life”.
Take a listen to how they went about investigations and why UPL won't disclose the chemicals that truly contaminated Durban's rivers and beaches.
According to AmaBhungane, this birthed two problems: toxic smoke from the fire and a mass chemical spill as water used to fight the fire flowed down the hill, into a wetland and into the Ohlanga river.
Fortunately, the investigative journalism paper has shared some of the deadly findings.
The following was shared by AmaBhungane after they accessed the inventory:
- More than 26,000 kilograms of Masta 900, an insecticide containing the “very potent neurotoxin” methomyl, for which “contact with skin, inhalation of dust or spray, or swallowing may be fatal”.
- Another 1,800 litres of methamidophos, also a “very potent neurotoxin”.
- More than 40,000 litres of products using the herbicide paraquat, which poses “high risk for all life forms”.
- Over 19,000 kilograms of Terbufos, another “very toxic” chemical presenting “high risk to all forms of life”.
Take a listen to how they went about investigations and why UPL won't disclose the chemicals that truly contaminated Durban's rivers and beaches.
